Platen alignment control

ABSTRACT

A data encoding machine operating on the principle of a bed, an embossed printing plate, and a roller platen. The invention is in the improvement of the pressure and attitude control of the platen. The platen is carried by a carriage mounted to slide on a rod. The rod is supported by end cams resting against a fixed support and moveable in reference thereto. The cams are rotatable by manual adjustment for control of platen distance from the bed and printing plate. The carriage is also controlled by a second rod which is carried by end cams moveable in a direction to swing said carriage about the first rod for attitude control.

United States Patent [191 See [ 1 PLATEN ALIGNMENT CONTROL Gary G. See,Chagrin Falls, Ohio [73] Assignee: Addressograph Multigraph Corporation,Cleveland, Ohio 22 Filed: Mar. 1,1974

21 Appl.No.:447,234

[75] inventor:

[52] U.S. C1. 101/269 [51] Int. Cl B411 3/56 [58] Field of Search101/269, 375, 212, 219

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,232,230 2/1966Sheldon.............................. 101/269 3,269,307 8/1966 Bell eta1........ 101/269 3,309,987 3/1967 Pexton 101/269 3,420,171 1/1969 Maulet a1 101/269 3,447,457 6/1969 Dechert et al............ 101/2693,529,545 9/1970 Gartside 101/219 3,673,960 7/1972 Ricci et a1...101/269 3,756,151 9/1973 Zofchack.... 101/269 3,766,855 10/1973 Hardt101/219 1451 July 8,1975

3,810,424 5/1974 Barbour 101/269 Primary ExaminerEdgar S. Burr AssistantExaminer-William Pieprz Attorney, Agent, or FirmRay S. Pyle [57]ABSTRACT A data encoding machine operating on the principle of a bed, anembossed printing plate, and a roller platen. The invention is in theimprovement of the pressure and attitude control of the platen.

The platen is carried by a carriage mounted to slide on a rod. The rodis supported by end cams resting against a fixed support and moveable inreference thereto. The cams are rotatable by manual adjustment forcontrol of platen distance from the bed and printing plate.

The carriage is also controlled by a second rod which is carried by endcams moveable in a direction to swing said carriage about the first rodfor attitude control.

6 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATEMTEMUL 8 ms 3, 8 93,393

SHEET PLATEN ALIGNMENT CONTROL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The genesisof machine addressing probably is shown in the U.S. Pat. No. 558,936issued on Apr. 28, I896, to Joseph S. Duncan, one of the founders of thebusiness later to become the Addressograph Multigraph Corporation. Slowas it was, it provided accurate addressing from fixed plates.

From such a start, a sophisticated line of business machines, such, forexample, as U.S. Pat. No. 2,359,850, were developed to do repetitionprinting of addresses and other fixed information from metal platesstored in long storage drawers. These machines are designed for longhard service conditions of large mailing demands.

The development of data recorders has brought forth many concepts, someof which are impact machines, and others of which provide rollingplatens which roll across a superimposed form and embossed printingplate.

Groover US. Pat. No. 3,340,800 illustrates a type of addressing machinewhich has developed over many years to a point of sophistication whichwill enable the addressing of thousands of mailing pieces in eachworking hour without failure. These machines are intended for highproduction mailing situations and are very costly. The support track forthe carriage which carries the platen of such machines is rigid beyondwhat would appear to the observer to be necessary, but has been provento be necessary in order to hold a factory set impression condition.

The factory setting procedure on such machines is a skilled techniqueand costly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed principally to theimprinting of forms, such as mailing envelopes, intended for reading bythe human eye rather than detection by sophisticated magnetic andoptical reading machines. In order to accomplish a machine which isadaptable to a wide variety of forms by an operator not necessarilytrained to any substantial degree, this invention seeks to provide adynamic support for a platen roller by the provision of a carriage toride a support rail, which rail is shiftable in its relationship to thebed of the machine, and hence, affects both the pressure and alignmentwith respect to the bed.

Further, this invention is directed to a second control for the carriagewhich corrects for attitude and thus enables the platen to printuniformly across a wide path including several lines of printing matter.

It is the intention of this invention to provide means for adjusting theplaten pressure as the machine is running and therefore allow theoperator to provide the necessary print-out pressure from observation ofresult quality rather than using testing instruments and depending upona Serviceman call for each change of printing form.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a carriage supportwhich is capable of complete attitude and pressure adjustment betweenparticular runs of forms by a semi-skilled operator.

A considerably financial advantage is provided in that non-precisionroutine parts may be assembled, and after assembly a relatively simplecam position adjustment set by factory assembly personnel will bring theplaten into proper alignment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a pictorial illustration ofa printing apparatus which employs a platen and platen control accordingto the principles of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the printing apparatus of FIG. I with aportion of its casing removed;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view in comparision to FIG. 2, with furtherportions of the housing broken away to show interior construction;

FIG. 4 is a plan view as taken along the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an end view of the platen carriage support shaft mounting asviewed along the line 55 of FIG. 4',

FIG. 6 is a view of the opposite side of the apparatus as taken alongthe line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is taken along the line 77 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a perspective illustration ofthe roller platen, carriage andthe carriage support and attitude control rods; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of the control movements availableby means of the present inventron.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A printing apparatus I0 is shownin FIGS. 1-4 and includes a sheet material supply hopper l6 in which aplurality of sheet material articles, such as envelopes 18, are storedon edge in an upright orientation. The envelopes 18 are transported oneat a time from the hopper 16 along a horizontal path to a printingstation 20 by a conveyor assembly 22 (FIG. 4). Printing plates 26 aremoved sequentially along a vertical path from a removable drawer 28 tothe printing station 20. During a printing operation, data istransferredfrom one of the printing plates 26 to one of the envelopes 18 at theprinting station 20.

The envelopes 18 are stored in the hopper 16 with their face surfacesextending vertically upright and with their lower edge portions disposedin engagement with a support surface 48 (FIG. 4) which slopes downwardlytoward a front control panel 52. When an envelope 18 is to betransferred from the hopper 16 to the printing station 20, anintermittent drive assembly 54 is activated by energizing a solenoid 56for a short time to move a forwardmost one of the envelopes 18 onto acontinuously driven conveyor belt 86.

The conveyor belt 86 engages a lower edge of an envelope l8 andtransports it toward the printing station 20 with the envelope in anupright position, that is with the opposite face surfaces of theenvelope 18 disposed in a substantially vertical orientation.

When the envelope 18 reaches the printing station 20, the leading edgeof the envelope is stopped by engagement with a registration nip (FIG 4)formed by a pair of rollers in an assembly 106. Engagement of theleading edge of the envelope 18 with the nip I00 registers the envelopelongitudinally relative to the printing station 20.

At the printing station, there is provided an anvil 102 which gives asupport surface against which the printing plate 26 is supported againstthe pressure of the printing operation. A ribbon 104, a section of whichis shown in FIG. 4, is provided by a supply take-up spool and fedthrough the station in a conventional manner. The ribbon provides theprinting ink to make legible the impression. An alternative for suchribbon is an ink bearing platen roller. The illustrated embodiment hasbeen selected wherein a ribbon is supplied.

The envelope ]8 remains in the upright orientation at the printingstation while data is transferred from a printing plate 26 to theenvelope. After this printing operation has taken place, the envelope I8is ejected through the opening 34 (FIG. 1) into the tray 36. It shouldbe noted that the assembly 106 can be moved, with the conveyor belt 86,from the retracted position as shown in FIG. 4 to the extended positionshown in FIG. 1 to register different portions of an envelope 18relative to a printing plate 26 at the printing station 20.

The specific construction of the conveyor assembly 22 is more fullydisclosed and claimed in U.S. Application Ser. No. 327,065 filed on Jan.26, 1973, by J. G. Gardner et al, and entitled FORM FEED AND TRANSPORTASSEMBLY. It should be understood that the specific construction of theconveyor assembly 22 is not part of the present invention. The conveyorassembly 22 is utilized to transport many different types of sheetmaterial articles, such as pamphlets to the printing station 20.

A plate feed mechanism according to U.S. Application Ser. No. 327,05 lis operable to engage a printing plate in a drawer 28, to move theprinting plate 26 from the drawer to the printing station 20, and toreturn the printing plate 26 to the drawer 28. This plate feed mechanismis fully described and defined in U.S. Application Ser. No. 327,05lfiled Jan. 26, 1973, by Gary G. See et al, and includes a pair of frontplate feed slides which are raised upwardly through a feed stroke tomove a first printing plate from the drawer to an intermediate stationand to move a second printing plate upwardly from the intermediatestation to an inspection station. Simultaneously therewith, a pair ofrear plate feed slides move a third printing plate downwardly from theinspection station toward the printing station 20 and move a fourthprinting plate 26 from the printing station 20 back to the drawer. Eachtime a printing plate 26 is removed from the drawer 28, the drawer isindexed or moved through a distance equal to the thickness of a printingplate to position a next succeed ing printing plate for engagement bythe front plate feed slides.

Between operating cycles of the plate feed mechanism 32, a printingassembly (see FIG. 4) at the printing station 20 prints on an envelope18 with one of the printing plates 26. The printing assembly includes acarriage 562 which is reciprocated by a rail support system from rightto left (as viewed in FIG. 4) along a support rail, which is illustratedin this embodiment as a rod 564 to move a roller platen 566 through aprinting stroke across anvil 102. During the printing stroke, the rollerplaten 566 presses an envelope 18 against ribbon 104, printing plate 26,and anvil 102 to imprint data on the envelope 18 (FIG. 4).

Once the carriage 562 reaches the end of its printing stroke, theprinting roller platen 566 is toggled to a retracted position and theplaten is moved through a return stroke during which the platen isspaced from the envelope 18. During this return stroke, the assembly I06is operated at a relatively high speed to accelerate the printedenvelope away from the printing station 20 ward the printing station 20by the conveyor assembly 22. In addition, the plate feed mechanism 32 isactivated to move a next succeeding printing plate 26 to the printingstation.

In all data encoders, the roller platen must transverse the sandwich ofform and printing plate with sufficient pressure to produce a properprint-out, and uniformly across all lines of the printing plate in orderthat each line may be legible.

Prior practice has been to establish a rail for the carriage and tofactory-adjust and test that rail until a proper setting is obtained.Shims and similar adjusting devices have been the common practice.

This invention is probably shown best in FIG. 8 of the drawing and willapply to substantially any and all types of data recorders, but theprior description of one particular commercial machine has been given asan envi ronment for the complete understanding of the invention.

The support rod 564 has two ends, at least one of the ends is providedwith a means to cause the axis of the rod to shift toward and away fromthe bed of the machine, which in this case is the anvil 102. Thus, thesupport rod 564 may be said to be movable through a plane whichintersects the bed of the machine.

To accomplish such movement, a cam collar 570 is secured to the firstend of the support rod 564 by means of a set screw 572.

The rod 564 is not confined in a rigid end structure, but rather is heldby an anchor 574 and spring 576 against a frame abutment 578 of theprinting machine. Thus, the distance of the first end of the rod 564from the anvil 102 may be set by loosening the set screw 572 androtating the cam collar 570 until the axis of the rod is moved asufficient distance.

Also, the setting of the axis of rod 564 with respect to anvil 102 maybe accomplished by rotating the rod 564 after the cam 570 has beenlocked to the first end of that rod.

The rod 564 has a second end which preferably is equipped with a collar580 secured to the second end of the rod and backed up against a frameabutment in exactly the same manner as described with respect to thefirst end. A circular collar may be used for parts 570 or 580 ifadjustment of only one end is preferred for a very specific purposes, orif another type of position adjustment is required for one end. Theanchor 574 for the second end of rod 564 is not shown in FIG. 8 of thedrawing, but may be seen in FIG. 6. Although FIG. 7 is a specific viewof the first end support, the preferred support of the rod 564 is toprovide the FIG. 7 structure on both ends.

Usually setting of the cam collars 570 and 580 will be a servicepersonnel operation, or setting at the factory, and will not be done bythe operating personnel, although it is entirely possible with verylittle skill to make such a setting in the field.

There is provided in this invention a means for changing the distance ofthe axis of the rod 564 by operating personnel even while the machine isin operation. This is accomplished by means of a sprocket 582 secured tothe second end of the rod and driven in a rotary motion by means of achain 584 threaded around a sprocket 582 and an upper sprocket 588carried by a thumb wheel 586. Thumb wheel 586 projects from the cabinentof the machine accessible to the operator and is used to move the chainand hence the sprocket 582. By rotating the sprocket 582 andconsequently the rod 564, the cams 570 and 580 are rotated against theirframe members and cause the end to which the collar is attached to movetoward or away from the anvil 102. When both ends are equipped with suchcam members, as shown in the preferred embodiment, the motion will be auniform motion once the collars are properly established on the rod.

The alignment and pressure having been established and adjustable bythis manner described, the attitude of the roller is then controlled bymeans of an attitude rod 600 located a short distance from the rod 564.The rod 600 is supported on each end by eccentric collars 602 whichcollars have face plates 604 abutting a machine frame plate. An openingin the machine plate accepts the eccentric collar 602 in a snug fit, butwill permit rotation of the eccentric collar.

The face plate 604 has an arcuate opening 606 to accept a lock screw 608threaded into the side plate of the machine. Hence, the ends of the rod600 may be moved in a somewhat arcuate swing, but generally, in a pathwhich is transverse to the movement of the adjustment movement for rod564. These comparative movements are shown best in FIG. 9 where theresult of the attitude control is depicted by the several dotted linesat the face of the roller platen.

The carriage 562 has an elongated opening 610 through which the rod 600passes. This opening provides the effect of a bifurcated end on thecarriage which establishes first and second surfaces 612 and 614 closelyfitting the surface of the rod 600.

The present commercial machine has cam members at both ends of the rod564, and it is probable that this embodiment will be the usual mode ofconstruction. However, the broad object achieved is to put together apractical machine from factory production by factory assembly personnel.The manner in which the broad concept is implemented is to provide camcollars on both ends of the shaft. After the collars are adjusted tobring the axis of the rod into alignment with the anvil, the workingdistance is selectable by rotation of the rod.

Further, the use of a second rail for attitude control eliminates a morecostly formed rail rather than the round rod 564. Such a rail can betilted for attitude control, but fitting a running bearing into thecarriage to run on such a rail increases cost.

What is claimed is:

l. In a data recorder in which a bed anvil provides a support plane fora raised character print plate, a rail support system which establishesa guide path over the bed anvil, and a platen is transported on saidrail support system in a print cycle from a home position over said bedanvil to a terminous and return for imprinting a form from the printplate, the improvement of said rail support system for establishing theattitude and elevation of said platen with respect to said anvil,comprisa carriage transport rail having a first and a second end;

a first end mount for said first end of the transport rail;

a second end mount for said second end of the transport rail; first andsecond means for movably supporting said first and second rail endsrespectively for coordinated movement towards and away from said bedanvil simultaneously to a selected location;

a platen carriage mounted to run on said transport rail, said platencarriage slidably mounted and pivotal on said rail for establishing theguide path thereof, said platen carried by said carriage for travel insaid print cycle, said platen thereby being adjusted in spacing withrespect to said bed anvil for establishing proper print pressure of aform to be imprinted by a print plate on said bed anvil;

a guide rod for attitude control located a distance from said carriagetransport rail and substantially parallel thereto said guide rod havinga first and a second end;

a first end mount for said first end of the guide rod;

a second end mount for said second end of the guide rod; means foradjusting the position of said mounts to shift said rod in a planegenerally parallel to said anvil and normal to itself;

said platen carriage having guide surfaces closely fitting said guiderod in said normal direction whereby shifting of said end mounts of theguide rod will cause a rotation of said carriage about said transportrail for platen attitude control.

2. A data recorder as defined in claim I wherein said first and secondmeans for movably supporting said first and second rail ends comprisecams urged against fixed abutment supports by yieldable means.

3. A data recorder as defined in claim 1 wherein said rail is a roundrod and the carriage has a through opening sized to fit slidably on saidrod.

4. A data recorder as defined in claim 1 wherein said guide surfaces aredefined by a slot extending through said carriage receive said guiderod, and said rod is swingable on end mounts through a short are toswing said carriage about said carriage transport rail as a fulcrum forattitude adjustment.

5. In a data recorder in which a bed anvil provides a support plane fora raised character print plate, a rail support system which establishesa guide path over the bed anvil, and a platen is transported on saidrail support system in a print cycle from a home position over said bedanvil to a terminous and return for imprinting a form from the printplate, the improvement of said rail transport system for establishingthe alignment and elevation of said platen with respect to said anvil,comprising:

a carriage transport rail having a first and a second end;

a first end mount for said first end of the transport rail;

a second end mount for said second end of the transport rail; means forsupporting said second end mount at a location in a plane intersectingsaid bed anvil and said guide path at a substantially normal angle, andmeans for moving said means for supporting the second end mount alongsaid plane by an operator controlled accessory;

a platen carriage mounted to run on said transport rail for establishinga guide path thereof, said platen carried by said carriage for travel insaid print cycle, said platen thereby being adjusted in spacing withrespect to said bed anvil for establishing proper print pressure of aform to be imprinted by a print plate on said bed anvil;

a guide rod for attitude control located a distance from and generallyparallel to said carriage transport rail. said guide rod having a firstand a second end;

a first end mount for said first end of the guide rod;

a second end mount for said second end of the guide rail;

means for adjusting the position of said mounts to shift said rod in aplane generally parallel to said anvil and normal to its major axis;

said platen carriage having guide surfaces closely fitting said guiderod in said normal direction, said carriage and rail providing forpivotal movement of plish shifting of the rail normal to itself.

1. In a data recorder in which a bed anvil provides a support plane fora raised character print plate, a rail support system which establishesa guide path over the bed anvil, and a platen is transported on saidrail support system in a print cycle from a home position over said bedanvil to a terminous and return for imprinting a form from the printplate, the improvement of said rail support system for establishing theattitude and elevation of said platen with respect to said anvil,comprising: a carriage transport rail having a first and a second end; afirst end mount for said first end of the transport rail; a second endmount for said second end of the transport rail; first and second meansfor movably supporting said first and second rail ends respectively forcoordinated movement towards and away from said bed anvil simultaneouslyto a selected location; a platen carriage mounted to run on saidtransport rail, said platen carriage slidably mounted and pivotal onsaid rail for establishing the guide path thereof, said platen carriedby said carriage for travel in said print cycle, said platen therebybeing adjusted in spacing with respect to said bed anvil forestablishing proper print pressure of a form to be imprinted by a printplate on said bed anvil; a guide rod for attitude control located adistance from said carriage transport rail and substantially parallelthereto said guide rod having a first and a second end; a first endmount for said first end of the guide rod; a second end mount for saidsecond end of the guide rod; means for adjusting the position of saidmounts to shift said rod in a plane generally parallel to said anvil andnormal to itself; said platen carriage having guide surfaces closelyfitting said guide rod in said normal direction whereby shifting of saidend mounts of the guide rod will cause a rotation of said carriage aboutsaid transport rail for platen attitude control.
 2. A data recorder asdefined in claim 1 wherein said first and second means for movablysupporting said first and second rail ends comprise cams urged againstfixed abutment supports by yieldable means.
 3. A data recorder asdefined in claim 1 wherein said rail is a round rod and the carriage hasa through opening sized to fit slidably on said rod.
 4. A data recorderas defined in claim 1 wherein said guide surfaces are defined by a slotextending through said carriage receive said guide rod, and said rod isswingable on end mounts through a short arc to swing said carriage aboutsaid carriage transport rail as a fulcrum for attitude adjustment.
 5. Ina data recorder in which a bed anvil provides a support plane for araised character print plate, a rail support system which establishes aguide path over thE bed anvil, and a platen is transported on said railsupport system in a print cycle from a home position over said bed anvilto a terminous and return for imprinting a form from the print plate,the improvement of said rail transport system for establishing thealignment and elevation of said platen with respect to said anvil,comprising: a carriage transport rail having a first and a second end; afirst end mount for said first end of the transport rail; a second endmount for said second end of the transport rail; means for supportingsaid second end mount at a location in a plane intersecting said bedanvil and said guide path at a substantially normal angle, and means formoving said means for supporting the second end mount along said planeby an operator controlled accessory; a platen carriage mounted to run onsaid transport rail for establishing a guide path thereof, said platencarried by said carriage for travel in said print cycle, said platenthereby being adjusted in spacing with respect to said bed anvil forestablishing proper print pressure of a form to be imprinted by a printplate on said bed anvil; a guide rod for attitude control located adistance from and generally parallel to said carriage transport rail,said guide rod having a first and a second end; a first end mount forsaid first end of the guide rod; a second end mount for said second endof the guide rail; means for adjusting the position of said mounts toshift said rod in a plane generally parallel to said anvil and normal toits major axis; said platen carriage having guide surfaces closelyfitting said guide rod in said normal direction, said carriage and railproviding for pivotal movement of the carriage about the major axis ofsaid rail, whereby shifting of the said end mounts of the guide rod willcause a rotation of said carriage about said transport rail for platenattitude control.
 6. In the rail transport system of claim 5 said endmounts being excentric cams mounted on the rail ends, with frameabutments providing fixed base reference platforms for said cams, and;said operator control being a manual drive means for rotating the railand the cams thereon to accomplish shifting of the rail normal toitself.